Orzeł Kayak Extreme Team

Well, they like to get wet.

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Hey, The Old Man of Storr, I saw you - mission accomplished

I've already published a couple of shots from Glasgow. There were fewer of'em so it was a bit easier to choose. And it was easier 'cause Glasgow was not the main goal of that short visit in Scotland. The target was the Isle of Skye, The Storr and the Old Man of Storr.

And mission accomplished.

I had been there before. I went there for two weeks in may 1995. I saw a pretty big part of Scotland startin' from Edinburgh, up north to Inverness, Balintore and I guess a bit further (Helmsdale). Then I shifted to the west coast, spent some time in Ullapool, went to Fort William, didn't manage to climb up to the top of Ben Nevis, then I went to the Isle of Skye.

And although I climbed up the Storr I did not see it. The visibility was no further than 2 maybe 3 meters max. I was walking there like in a coffee and cream thick fog. I barely saw my feet. The rocks were appearing as if from nowhere. I was lucky not to fall down into any ditch or off any edge. Anyway, I knew it was a magical place. That's why I decided to go back.

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That is Glen Nevis while I walk up Ben Nevis - again, and again - did not make it to the top. There's no point discussing the reasons, but it's an easy walk up and quite an accessible summit. The views - as follows:

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Nearby Fort William:

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On the way to the Isle of Skye. I guess at that point I remembered what I had said when I came back from Scotland 17 years ago. I said that I loved Ireland and its people, but Scotland was just amazingly beautiful. I rememberd because I saw that again.

 

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That is another shot of the same place: 

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From the bridge connecting the land with the Isle of Skye. It was being built at the time I was there for the first time. I do not remember how I got there, though. I can't recollect any ferry. So I guess there must have been an old bridge. But I can't remember it. I'll search my photo albums. Maybe I'll find something.:

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That is somewhere between Kyleakin and Kyle of Lochalsh:

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And a town Broadford on the Isle of Skye:

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Broadford, the Isle of Skye:

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And after passing Portree and a few passing places and cattle grids - which is quite challenging, especially when you do not drive on the right side of the road (meaning you drive on the wrong side of the road ;)) - we got to a parking place at the bottom of the Storr. And here's one of the photos taken on he way up. This time I did have great weather.

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And still on the way up:

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And here it is. The Old Man of Storr which comes (I heard) from the gaelic Bod an Stor which, as I read means - no surprise - Phallus of Storr.

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Here's the rock again. It looks different dependingly on the place you're looking at it from:

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The whole place looks moon-like landscape. But the viewes are beyond anything one can imagine. At least at such great weather. The highest point in the Storr is over 700 meters above the sea level.

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How did it come to look that way. It was a regular cliff, about  5 million years ago. And then in the last Ice Age the gaciers ground their way downhill leaving the pinnacles and all those weird - though fascinating - rock sculptures. 

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Then there's Kilt Rock. Pleats and pillars created between 61 and 55 milion years ago and a result of volcanic activity. Molten volcanic rocks slowly cooling made layers in the Jurassic sandstone rocks. Similar process is going on on Iceland nowadays:

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North of the Storr, still amazing views. I stopped the car every few kilometers to enjoy it.

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Near Uig:

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That is a village or a town Uig with the port and ferry to Ireland:

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North Isle of Skye, Trotternish peninsula:

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Eilean Donan Castle near Kyle of Lochalsh. It was built somewhere in the 13th century, though it might not have been the one we can see now. This one with lobster pots in front:

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It was raining on the way back to Fort William:

Glasgow - surprisingly friendly

I did not remember the city as such a friendly place. I guess it could have changed since I saw it last several years ago. Or it was just a stereotype I had in my head.

It struck me with its colours. And I also liked the industrial atmosphere of the place. A bit gloomy, spooky, overwhelming with huge glass wndows and steel doors.

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My fascination with back yards.

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Another back yard:

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Glass at the railway station Glasgow Central or I should say Glassss-gow Central. Actually an amazing railway station. Glass, light, reflections. A real beauty!

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Glasow Central Railway Station outside - with the Olympics banners. They're all around the city making it particularly colourful.

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A modday beer in Glasgow at a magical stuff market.

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Allsaints Spitalfields - a company that sells a bit overpriced clothes but has branches all over the world with hundreds of vintage sewing machines on display. Basically the one in Glasgow (Buchanan Street) has all the windows in the machines. Singers and what not. As I found out it symbolizes that the company originated in Spitalfields - that used to be tailors' area of London.

Impressive. 

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There are plenty of cafes in the centre. Some of them do look vintage, just like the sewing machines at the Allsaints'.

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Some are more up-to-date

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Motorway on the edges of  the centre of Glasgow.

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I did not have the chance do check it, as I spent there just several hours on the way out of Glasgow and on the way back home, but it looks like the night life is pretty rich

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Archaeological excavations (Stary Rynek, Mostowa)

This time Stivi is only guest starring (or rather his hand is).

I spent probably less than an hour at the archaeological site, and it was hot, dry and dusty. Perfect conditions for good shots.

So, here you have a few.

Starting with today's queen - Ania

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I like it! A lot! That picture has those light spots on dirt and dust that I like.

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Stivi's hand starring in a duet with "something resembling a coin"

Found someone... Lost someone...

A photo recollection of a contemplative evening few days ago. An evening sponsored by a bottle of wine from Italy.

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